On the way back from my Masailand hunt this July we have a night and 3/4 of a day in Joburg before flying out.
Would anyone have some suggestions as to what to do for some 7 hours ? Lunch, scenic drive etc……. Perhaps they are some operators that can be trusted.
Normally I don’t have such a long stop over but this time coming from Tanzania it is unavoidable.
Basically we have all day until about 3 pm. I don’t think that I want to go down town……..
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Many thanks

Go look at huntinginafrica.com, he does hunts and drive arounds , looking at places of interest, etc. Few years ago took the god grandson and after he hunted, we drove to a few places I wanted to see. His name is Pieter. e-mail is hunt@huntinginafrica.com and he'll get back with you. If he is tied up, has a friend who's a professional tour guide. One big interesting thing, would be to go to some of their gun shops. Most of them make places here look like dumps. Hope things work out and you have a great time.

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Into Sandton City mall, visit Sharps, Mandela Square, lunch outside at the square or out to Pretoria - Vortrekker Monument and lunch in Pretoria.

Send me a PM and I can give you the contacts of a private driver that I have been using for 10 years who would be able to pick you at ORT and drive you for the day - if you want.

Lots to see and do!

Charlie

Ps then there is the crowd that will tell you that you will get mugged, attacked and have your kidneys stolen!

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Think of it this way: if you were flying through Bagdad in the height of the war, would you want to go to lunch and see the sights? RSA murder rate is higher than Iraq death rate during the war.

I suggest you sleep in, have a late breakfast, watch TV or read a book until you need to check in.

Joburg is an armpit nowadays. Worse than the Bronx or Detroit.

I agree with Russ!!!

Charlie obviously lives there, and knows the situation.

Not so a foreign visitor.

Every single person I know who has visited South Africa has been a victim of crime!

Last one was a man who used to take his family there, and stays in guarded compounds.

He got robbed.

No more South Africa for him.

I may be naive but I think with a driver/guide your pretty safe. In '15 we traveled all over RSA with a tour guide and into the heart of the urban slums in Port Elizabeth. I thought it was very interesting but I didn't feel in danger.

Mark

I would stay at either Intercontinental (I have stayed there) or City Lodge depending on your budget. I know lots of folks stay at Africa Sky (I have stayed there, too) or Afton but why, when you have two hotels right at the airport and never have to leave the grounds, where most of the problems are occurring. If you wanted to go somewhere you can take the train from the airport to Sandton or Rosebank and look around, shop or have a nice meal and you will not look like a tourist (easy mark). That would required you to purchase a train card plus your fares and the card is not refundable. The train also goes to Pretoria, but I would recommend that you get a guide to drive you there. Hotel can arrange for a driver/guide.

Many thanks for your kind replies.
I was actually thinking about a day-trip away from Joburg into the nearby country.
Are there any game parks etc..?
Cheers

Nothing really close by. Sun City/Pilanesberg maybe but that's more than a day trip. The area surrounding JNB is a festering sore, except for Sandton perhaps but I haven't been there in 20 years, it's just an office suburb with a mall. I used to ride racehorses where Sandton City now stands, when I was a kid.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Nothing really close by. Sun City/Pilanesberg maybe but that's more than a day trip. The area surrounding JNB is a festering sore, except for Sandton perhaps but I haven't been there in 20 years, it's just an office suburb with a mall. I used to ride racehorses where Sandton City now stands, when I was a kid.

So how recently have you been in the area? I was there twice last year and there are certainly areas one can go safely (although South Africa has its definite issues)

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Thirty minutes outside Sandton - Cradle of Mankind (Nat Heritage Site) and the Lion & Rhino park which is a huge game park with own drive and restaurant / BBQ and refreshment area.

An easy afternoon out.

As Saeed correctly guessed, I live in and out of Joburg and have done since 2005. I too know of and have heard of lots of stories about crime and we have been the victims of RSA crime. We were also burgled in New Jersey when we lived there and Budapest too.

Non stop debate on RSA. Simple answer really, if you are worried / put of by crime stats and concerns don't go.

Cheers

Charlie

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Another glorious story of welcome in South Africa.

I have always, without fail, asked my hosts to pay for whatever I need, and I pay them.

I have never used a credit card in any African country.

Me either, Saeed. But I have had my credit card details stolen in Europe and here in the US. Last time in Europe was at a restaurant in the Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Fortunately American Express took care of the 4K in fraudulent charges. Last time in the US was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Phoenix. Lady there later tried to use my credit card details to buy two American Airlines tickets. She was caught.

Afton Safari Lodge is a great place to stay and they can arrange any touring you'd like to do.

Sure enough while in Uppington SA in 2007 I used my credit card to pay for a room at a national hotel the day before my departure and it was immediately compromised. There was a message from the credit card fraud department when I landed in Atlanta. never again will use any form of electronic payment while in Africa

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Another glorious story of welcome in South Africa.

I have always, without fail, asked my hosts to pay for whatever I need, and I pay them.

I have never used a credit card in any African country.

Last June. And pretty much every year before that going back 20 years.

And when I go I don't tag along behind a PH .. I travel independently.

If you get hold of Pieter with HuntinginAfrica, he's a PH and tour guide. He'll be with you and you'll be in his truck. Lives in Pretoria and a few places up there to see also. I spend 6 weeks there this summer, and no problems. Lived with folks there, and were in their locked in place when home, but out roaming around seeing places (the zoo for one, air museum for another). No problems with people any more than here. Most of the crime black on black. 9 different peoples there and they don't like one another, so there's where a lot of crime is, and in the "squatters" towns, where everyone poorer than anyone here can imagine. If you contact Pieter he can help you set up a plan. He has a famous guys home, Sammy Marks, museum around the corner, literally from his home, and very interesting place.

Charlie is correct. Lessor known places of interest are Johannesburg zoo with bongo and blue duiker on view, and just next to the zoo the South African military museum with displays from the Zulu wars, first, second and the more recent wars in southern africa. Messerschmitts and a Mirage fighter jet, and lots more.

Thanks for all your good suggestions. I am sure we will make a plan. Coming back from Tanzania with my wife, the last thing she probably wants to see is more wildlife but I ma sure we will find a nice place outside of town for lunch with a view etc....